Pneumatic tire.



, H'. w. DOVER. PNEUMATIQ TIRE. LPPLIOATION FILED APB'. 8., 1907.

' Patengioct.' 6, 1968.

n ,fw @iwf Affen/vim E.. W. DOVER.` PNEUMATIU TIRE. I APPLICATION FILED un. a, 1907.

Patented Oct. 6, 1908.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

H.v Wt DOVER. PNEUMATIC TIRE.,

APPLICATION FILED APR. 8, 1907.

I VIII/[[7],

'HORACE WALTER DOVER; or NoivriiAMProN, ENGLAND;

i li imininvr1c Tian.

To all 'whom' it may @encarar Be it known that 1I, 4Heimen WALTER DOVER, a subject of the King of Great Britain, and resident of Holyrood, St. James, Northampton, England, engineer, have in-V vented certain new and useful Improvements in and Relating to Pneumatic Tires, yof wliichpthe following is a specification. v

This inventionrelates to improved means for securing pneumatic tires in position, andit has for its Aprincipal'objectv to provide a construction whereby the tire will be so held that the effect of the4 internal pressure will be tocause the tire to become more securely ixedin position instead oftending to' becoinedetached by increase of its diameter as heretofore.y i j v A further obj ect-of the invention is to prevent lateral rolling of the tire which, in the caseof tires secured asy at present, :isliable to produce side slip and also cause the air tube to be nipped.

According to the present invention lthe wheel rim is provided with a'pair of `'relatively deep side flanges whosefree edges arev directed towards one another^so,that the flanges embrace or overlap notmerely' the base but the body of the tire laterally, and expose between their free edges onlyl the tread portion of the tire and the parts-of' the -latter in'irnediately adjacent to the tread.

The portions of the lianges which extend radially beyond `the outer periphery' of the rim may befirst-outwardly curved, yso'asto extend laterally to a greater Width than the rim itself and thus affordprotection tothe nuts or heads ofuthe transverse bolts or screws,rand their* outer portionsare curved towards one another, their free'edg'es' being preferably strengthened 4by beadings.

The terminal portions of the anges preferably extend towards one another so far as to overhang the peripheral lface of the rim against which the' base of the tireV orair tube bears. These portions of the flanges are preferably parallel to .theperipheral face of the wheel rim or may evenv be recurved towards the latter, so as to render it impossible for the tire to become blown oill or otherwise accidentally separated fromthe Wheel in the radial direction; This 'form of .the4 anges is adapted tolpermit of a removable'wearing tread or an antifskidding band 'being applied Ato the 'tread' -ofthetire very readily, inar. vginal extensions provided .on sucha band be- Specication of Letters Patent. Application mea Aprile, i907. seriai Nc. 366,985.

resented oct. e, ieos.

ing tucled-V between the body of the tire and the 4flanges,"'.which may be grooved, or proi vided w1th'apertures or recesses, to receive beadings (wiredfor otherwise) .or studs o r other projections upon or nearithe lateral edges of the band'.

Y The tire or cover instead of beingapproximately circular in cross section as hitherto,

lwould be made of a configuration to fit the space whichI it is intended-to fill, the body of -the tire-when inflated presenting shoulders adapted to vengage beneath .the inwardly curved flanges of the rim while the tread portion is adapted to project as already described between and beyond the edges of the flanges.:v 4

" In cases -where'the invention is applied to a wheel having abroad tread, the construction' may be as before described, a single pair ofsideJia-nges and a single tire cover being used, but; the latter having two or more tread portions .arranged side by side in parallel annuli. lEach tread portion projects as -before beyond the radial limits of the side flanges, and between each two adjacent tread portions the tire or cover is encircled by a floating band of inextensible metal, preferablyconvexinwardly in cross section, the external diameter of the band being equal or approximately equal to thatv of the side flan'es.. v 4 .T e invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings which consist of cross sec tional views" of variouslexamples of wheel rims'and tires' embodying the `principal improvements mentioned above. 7

In these drawings Figure ly shows thea plication ofthe invention to a so'scalle'd arti lery wheel`4 '(71. e. one having a wooden folly). Fig, Qshows the application of the invention to a similar wheel which however is provided with a metal rim adapted'for the attachment of a pneumatic tire of the usual type. l Fig.

3 shows the Vapplication of the invention to a wheel having.' ametal'rim only. jFig. 4l

shows the application of theinvention to a wheel having a broad tread. pFig. 5 shows a .modification ofthe arrangement-shown in' Fi. 2. l i t limilar letters of reference denote,r like parts throughout the drawings.v l.

Referring to Fi 1, A is the wooden yfelly of a' so-called artillery wheelmade originally to suit the requirements ofthel present i'nvention, the fellyA being surrounded by a peripheral band B preferably shrunk' on as usual. The wheel is provided with a pair of relatively deep side flanges C whose free edges c are directed towards one another so that the flanges embrace or overlap not.

merely the base but the body of the tire D laterally, and expose between their free jacent lateral portion of the tire, when deflated, or collapsed under an excessive load, from crushing the air tube d against the band B, even if the edges c of'theflangesw, should be brought in contact withthe ground. Each of-the flanges() `is-renri'ovablaf and consists of an annular plate whose portion C1 of lesser diameter 1s shaped transversely so as to constitute a cheekplate adapted to conform approximately to thev -contour of the corresponding facel of the felly A against which it is applied and towards which it is drawn by means of a series of screw bolts E. `The latter pass transversely through holes provided in the felly A, in the portions C1 of both the flanges C, and in the marginal flaps f of the tire cover which are clamped between the flanges and telly, the edges b of the band B projecting beyond the faces of the felly so as to bite into the cover when the bolts E are tightened. The bolts E, by transfixing the flaps f, positively prevent creepin of the-latter.

'lhose portions g of the felly A, at each side, with which the fla s f' of lthe tire make contact and through which the bolts E extend, are made to project laterally, and the inner edges h of the flanges are made ofless diameter than the projecting portions g-of the telly and are bent towardspne another, so that the flaps f are caused to lap over and embrace the projecting portions 'g of the felly in such manner as to become interlocked therewith. edges fk of the flangesmay be free to be drawn by the bolts E towards the-telly suffieiently far to insure the flaps f becoming tightly nipped between the flanges and felly, the edge li of each flange is received in an annular groove ofi'sufficient depth, rovided on ythe corresponding face of the fe y as indicated. By this construction, .as well as by lthe lateral projection of the edges b of the band B as already described, the felly or rim of the wheel is in' effect fprovided on each lateral face with a circum rentially extending corrugation or corrugations with which the marginal flaps of the tire are caused by In order that the inturned innerl the pressure of the cheek plates C to become interlocked.

Those portions of the flanges C which extend radnilly beyond the band B, are oulwardly curved or bellied so as to extend laterally beyond, and afford protection lo, the heads and nuts of the bolts E, their free edges c, which are strengthened by headings, being inwardly curved towards one another so as to terminate at a distance apart approximately equal to the width of the band l. The edges c of the flanges lnight however extend further towards one another, either in a direction substantially parallel to the band b, or even b being recurved towards the band, so as tile more effectually to hold thc tire. The outer face of' thenband b, which constitutes what may-be. termed the seat for the tire, is approximately tangential to the innerjfaces'o'f the outwardly bellied portions ofhe flanges C so that the air tube cl, when inflated, Will encounter no sudden changes of contour in the surfaces with which 1t comes in contact.

The arrangement shown in Fig. 2 resembles that just described, but is designed to meet the requirements of a case wherein the invention is applied to a wheel already provided With a shrunk-on metal rim K having lateral flanges adapted to accommodate a pneumatic tire of the ordinary type. In this case the rim K may be retained, an annular band B being slipped over the flanges k so as to rest thereon with its edges b projecting slightly at both sides as shown. As the outwardly curved side flanges lc usually rojeet, as indicated, laterally beyond the si e faces a of the felly A, these flanges serve to replace the projecting portions g of the felly fshown in Fig. 1, and the bolts E are passed through holes in the flanges 711,50 as to extend between the rim K and band B. In other .respects the construction illustrated in Fig.

2 -1s the same as that described with reference to Fig. 1.

The arrangement shown in Fig. 3 is similar to that shown in Fig. 2, and is designed tomeet the requirements of a case wherein the invention is applied to a wheel o't' the bicycle type, whose rim is entirely of metal and adapted to receive a pneumatic tire of the ordinary type. In this case the metal rim K with its lateral flanges is of necessity retained', an annular band B being (as in Fig. 2) slippedovcr the flanges so as to rest thereon with its edges b projecting slightly at both sides as shown. The. bolts E are passed through the holes in the. flanges c,so as to extend between the rim K and band B, and there being no folly as in the cases previously described, the margins fof the tire cover, and the inturned inner edges h of the flanges C, are both free, when drawn towards one another from opposite sides, to pass over the rim K on that side wheel. g f. Fig. 4 showsV the application of the -inventionto a 4wheel'having a broad tread andi a thereof which. istowards the center of the- .wooden `telly. 5 In this case` the construction is very similar to that described With reference to Fig. -l, a-single airl of side flang'esG, and asingle tire -D bemg used, but

shown there-.fare two narrow bands 1?1 let into seatings at the `outer corners of the felly and projecting from le respective vlateral .faces thereof so 4that theiredges Z) are adapted to bite intothetire cover, as be-l fore, when theA flan "es C lare drawn towards one another by the oltsE. j'

The use of two lateral bands B1','as shown, permits of the central port-ion a1 of the outer periphery of the fell'ybeing hollowed out as indicated, so asto be :adapted (when. the tire is collapsed) -to receive the rentrant portion aof the tire which lies between the 'tread portions J. Hence the* distance yto which the flanges C project radially beyond` theouter periphery of the felly A, may be made correspondingly less, thanwould otherwise be possible in view of the necessity of reventing'the air tube d lbecoming crushed etween the telly and tread when the wheel,l with the tire' collapsed, runs upon the edges c of the flanges C. 4

Between 4the tread portions J ,the tire is encircled by a floating annular flexible band O of inextensible material of a diameter ap proximately equal to the maximum diameter of the flanges C. AThisband O, which lies in a grocvep between the treads, and which is formed of stranded wire cord or thin wire rope or equivalent material, serves to pre-v vent tlie mut'ally adjacent sideso-f the tread J from being blown outwards by .the air pressure within the tire. At the same time .the band O is capable of bendinginwards Vsquare hole to fit al squared locally when the wheel passes over an obstruction, the' pressure within the tire serving to restore, and normally maintain, 'the' circularity of the band.

In all cases the flanges C may be either of rolled.: or pressed metal as indicated in Figs. 1 andv 4,0r of cast metal (preferably steel)- as indicated in Fig. `5. In the' latter vcase radially disposed ribs may be provided as for example at r. r1 for the purpose of strengthening the castings. In vany case itv will be advisablev to thicken or outwardly emboss themetal of each flange (as at Q in cach figure) where the bolts E pass through the flanges, the boss thus formed, having a portion on vthe neck oi." the bolt 4as indicated.' i

The tire covers used in connection with the construction, vand are Aas may be necessary to electually shield lthe cover'froin the effects of-frictional contact,

. positionv by 1ts thinned marginal extensions and the body ofthe tire, the flanges C present invention may be of any preferred referably made of a cross-sectional form adapted Yto conform to the shape indicated in the drawings. Inthe -examples illustratedeach tire cover is understoodto be constituted by an linner wall -S ofcanvascomposed of several layers vulcanized together, and lcovered externally with a waterproof coatings of indiarnbber. The' `side faces j of the projecting portion of the tire cover .are made-of -such contour that,

when the tread Jfis forced inwards, these faces will'slide against, and'maintain rubbing contact with, the beaded edges c of the flanges C, seas .tO prevent the entry of mud and dirt' between the flangesand tire.

Thetreads J i shown in Figs.i 1, 3 and 4 are Vunde'rstood'to be of leather with metal studs 'u projecting lfrom the wearing surface, the side `lapst (more particularly in the case of Figs. 1 'and 3) being adapted to encounter and take a bearing against the-beaded edges c of the flanges-C when the tire is compressed'beyond 4the normal extent. v-Theseleather treads'are each attached to aflayer T of leather forming -an outer protective covering for the tire .and'cemented or other.- wise permanently attached thereto, the thinned margins ofthe-layer T extending as far towards theedges ofthe tire cover itself with` the flanges @consequent on the con' tinual alternate. compression and expansion of each part of the tire around the circumference of the Wheel during running.

The tread J shown in Fig. 2 is understood to be of india -rubber cemented to the tire,` and havin thinned margins extending between thev anges and the sides of the tire as and for the purpose just described. a Fig. 5 illustrates a convenient method of attaching a removable-wearing tread or .an anti-skiddin band'L which is. secured in or flaps Z being tucked between the'tlan es C ing provided at intervals around the circumference of the wheel with holes adapted to rewh-ich are riveted tothe flaps Z' and are naintained .in position inthe holes by the air pressure within the tire. ObviouslyV the holes and studsm should beso placedthat the studsv will not tend to leave the entirely` when the tire is collapsed.

It is to be observed that with the construe vfor exam le in thel event 5f-permanent or irreparab e damage to the flanges or tire)- a pneumatic tire of the'usual type. Hence in :loll

.ceive outwardly projecting 'metal studs m 115V holes' 12o tions illustrated in Figs. 2, 3 and 5, the Wheell i .is adapted to receive either a pai-r of la'nges' 'C and tire lD as shown, oralternatively ,(as 125 the levent of an irreparable acc1dent happening to the flanges or tire ofthe present iny130 formed, I declare that what I claim is 1..)In a wheel provided with a pneumatic tire, the combination of a tire cover fastened to the sides of the wheel rim and having laterally extending hollow lobes situated radially beyond the point of attachlnent, a

pair of side flanges gripping the said hollow lobes, and an inflatable inner tube confined between the cover and the wheel rim, in such manner that the internal pressure increases the grip of said lobes against the flanges, substantially as specified.

2. In a wheel provided with a pneumatic tire, the combination of a tire cover fastened to the sides of the wheelrim and having laterally extending hollow lobes situated radially beyondfthe point of attachment, a pair of side flanges gripping the said hollow lobes, and a lcircumferentially extending peripheral band secured to the rim and havreadily fitted in place on thev radially beyond the point of attachment. a

pair of side flanges gripping the said hollow lobes, an inflatable inner tube confined between the cover and the wheel rim, and a tread band secured to the tire.

4. In a wheel provided with a l'lnennmtic tire, the combination of a tire cover fastened to the sides of the wheel rim and having laterally extending hollow lobes situated radially beyond the point of attachment, a pair of side flanges gripping the said hollow lobes, an inflatable inner tube confined between the cover and the wheel rim, and a detachable tread band for the tire, said tread band being provided at its edges with beadings or proJections adapted to engage the recesses or apertures of the said flanges, whereby thesaid band will be interlocked between the tire and flanges.

HORACE WALTER DOVER.

Witnesses:

GEORGE E. MINTERN, WILLIAM G. E. Davies.

projecting beyond the sides of 1 hollow lobes situated' 

